Chapter 25. Acting Lovers?

I am going to use one of the most cliche anime tropes ever to win her heart and body.

(I mean, let's act as lovers.)

"What!"

Her anger flared out and she slammed her hand down on the table, startling both of her parents and me.

"What happened to you, Miria?"

Her mother shouted out in anger, making her fluster.

"N-no. It's nothing."

How could she even explain that I am talking in her mind?

"Then why are you slamming and shouting out of nowhere!"

"T-That's…"

She averted her eyes and looked towards me to help her. Looking at her flustered figure, I wanted to tease her more but knowing her, there is a high chance of it to backfire.

'I shouldn't take risks here.'

(Tell her that you agreed to her proposal of marriage and because of excitement you couldn't help but shout out.)

With a devilish smile inside, I messaged her revealing my most inner desire, maintaining my poker face to make sure not to raise any suspicions.

(What!)

Her face changed again, but she learnt her lesson and didn't shout out on impulse. Instead she asked me about it.

(Why should I say that? Don't tell me…)

She is becoming suspicious. I can't let her have the idea that I am courting her. I refused her even before she could complete her sentence.

(No. But aren't you tired of your parents' forceful marriage suggestions?)

In medieval times, marriage was a kind of necessity. Unlike modern girls who flaunt around and don't wish to marry and have children from an early age, the girls in these times are quite the opposite.

They dream of getting married as soon as they turn into an adult. And it's a catastrophic situation, if a girl doesn't agree to get married. 

'And Miria is standing in the same situation.'

She has turned into an adult, and her parents are bombarding to get married as fast as possible. But it's not just because of the tradition, but also out of concern.

Both of them know that Miria is the sole earner in the family, and her profession is kind of dangerous. It is a fact since she had to face death in her previous hunt. As Miria is the sole child, their prized daughter and they don't want to die fighting against demons for money to take care of them.

And because of that, they want her to have a partner who can take care of her in life. But because of her coldness that came out as a natural instinct to protect herself in the male dominated profession, and her fame and strength makes it harder for anyone to approach her.

Her parents are right, but the problem is that Miria doesn't want to get married at the moment. She is a kind of independent woman who earns with her own ability and doesn't want to get married this early in her life.

And the contrasting opinions between them give birth to confrontations between Miria and her parents. 

And that's when I gave her the option. The option to get rid of her parents' constant harassment for marriage.

(If you agree with them, they will be happy and won't bother you again.)

(But…)

I still could see some confusion on her face. And I hammered the final nail to convince her.

Blackmail!

(No, buts! Miria, they are worried about you. Can't you even do much for your parents?)

'If I use her parental affection, then I can win it!'

It's certain that despite all that fights, she loves her father and mother very much. It can be seen from her care towards them. She is a demon hunter only to take care of them. 

And all I have to do is to take that emotion and blend it according to my advantage. I need to make her feel that she should act a little, to make her parents feel happy and less worried about her.

(They are worried about you. If we can act, I am sure we can make them carefree. Don't you want that, Miria?)

(...)

(Miria?)

Her head was down and lips were trembling, but not even a speck of word came out of it. Her silence was making me a bit unsettled.

'Did I fail?'

I already thought of it as my failure and started to think of more methods to take her down, but soon I discarded all of them. Because, the anime trope of acting as lovers worked!

"Mom. Dad."

Miria's mother and father looked at Miria who suddenly looked at them with a serious gaze. And after taking a deep breath, she announced it.

"I am willing to marry Kurt."

"..."

Nothing. A pin drop silence. The silence was making her nervous, and a blush crept on her cold face making her question if she said something wrong.

"Why are you all quiet? Mom? Dad?"

Yet no answer. I was constantly switching my eyes from her to my-in-laws, observing the reactions. I don't know about them, but my heart was beating fast.

'I did it! I got her! Mother and father, just give you consent as fast as possible!'

I still have to follow some steps, but the objective of getting Miria is almost complete. The happiness washed over me, and I cheered myself for fighting that demon in risk of death.

'You are my charm, calamity tiger!'

Just I need the consent of the parents. I hope they don't change their words. 

"It seems you don't agree with it. Just, forget about—!"

Miria was about to take back her words, making me sweat out in nervousness but before it could happen, both mother and father got up.

"Wait! When did we say that we don't like it!"

"That's right. We are too overwhelmed with happiness. Miria, we are so happy for you."

On both of their faces, there was a full wide smile and tears of happiness. Looking at their happiness, even my dirty thoughts went away and I also smiled unconsciously. 

(I told you it would work. Think how happy they would feel if we got married for real?)

I glanced at her after the mana message and smiled, making her blush for the first time. My eyes widened looking at her. It was quite a treat, Though it lasted just for a second.

(That face... Don't tell me you fell in love with me, Miria?)

I smiled mischievously to tease her and get a reaction again but in return what I got was a cold reply. 

(Don't overstep your boundaries. We are just acting as lovers.)

'Tsk! She has high defenses!'

And here I thought I could get into her heart by giving her parents a smile.

And she turned her head after that, making me certain that it would take more for me to take down this cold beauty. 

And while I was pondering about more methods to seduce her, I missed the look of her red face with an embarrassed smile.